US DOE issues RFP for conceptual designs that advance coal plants of the future

The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Fossil Energy (FE) has issued a request for proposal (RFP) seeking conceptual designs for coal-based power plants of the future, with an option to conduct preliminary front-end engineering design (Pre-FEED) studies.

This RFP is in support of the Coal FIRST (Flexible, Innovative, Resilient, Small, Transformative) initiative, which will develop the coal plants of the future needed to provide secure, stable, and reliable power. As previously announced, this RFP and subsequent competitively-awarded research and development (R&D) opportunities will develop technologies that underpin coal-fired power plants that:

Are capable of flexible operations to meet the needs of the grid.

Use innovative and cutting-edge components that improve efficiency and reduce emissions.

Provide resilient power to Americans.

Are small compared to today’s conventional utility-scale coal.

Transform how coal technologies are designed and manufactured.

As part of this RFP, DOE encourages broad teaming arrangements that engage architecture/engineering firms, technology developers, equipment manufacturers and end users. Proposals will be accepted through 15 January 2019, and the solicitation can be found on FedConnect here, under Reference Number 89243319RFE000015.

“Coal-fired power plants are essential to a reliable and resilient electric grid. The Coal FIRST initiative represents a major effort to transform and strengthen the future of those plants,” said Assistant Secretary for Fossil Energy Steven Winberg. “We look forward to a strong response to this RFP.”

The Coal FIRST initiative will make coal-fired power plants of the future more adaptive to the modern electrical grid. The initiative will integrate R&D on critical power plant components with currently available technologies into a first-of-a-kind system. Through innovative technologies and advanced approaches to design and manufacturing, the initiative will look beyond today’s utility-scale power plant concepts (e.g., base-load units) in ways that fit with the electrical grid in the US and abroad while employing the most advanced technologies aimed at protecting the environment.